By the Gazette Editorial Board The public is undoubtedly confused by the huge number of rumours which spread like wild fire via the social media on every aspect of life in the country. The Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC), however, is playing an outstanding role in refuting some of the false information which reach internet users. The centre has been keen, especially in the past four years, on releasing reports on a regular basis to deal with the most prominent rumours on the social media platforms. The intensity of the rumours and the promptness by which they reach wide circles of the public, have proved that much more has to be done. In his speech on Sunday President Sisi sounded the alarm as to the devastating effect these rumours posed for the stability of the country. The Government, he said, had detected 21,000 rumours in no more than three months. The rumours mostly touch on issues that affect people's daily lives. They target prices, the quality of imported goods, government decisions, health issues, and a great many more concerns. And for people who are already experiencing difficult living conditions under an inevitable economic reform plan, the rumours do have a resonating adverse effect. They augment the people's sense of suffering, frustration and anger. These negative feelings are all it takes to "blow up countries from within" to use the President's words. It must be said that many of the rumours are deliberately created by the country's foes to shake society's trust in the government. But others circulate due to lack of information and transparency. And the public usually tends to believe what is published or posted without really tracing the source of information or authenticating news items. Following the President's reference to the impact of rumours, a TV campaign was launched to reveal facts about some of the circulating rumours. This is actually a commendable step and the effort being exerted by the IDSC in this same respect should not be underestimated. But, refutation is only one aspect of a process to achieve credibility. If the government really wished to limit the effect of rumours, its bodies should provide detailed and transparent information on projects, decisions, laws and whatever measures they take to bridge an existing information gap. Media staff, experts and ordinary citizens should be allowed access to accurate official information as an initial measure to combat rumours. Citizens should be allowed to understand what is going on in order to back their government. The public is undoubtedly confused by the huge number of rumours which spread like wild fire via the social media on every aspect of life in the country. The Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC), however, is playing an outstanding role in refuting some of the false information which reach internet users. The centre has been keen, especially in the past four years, on releasing reports on a regular basis to deal with the most prominent rumours on the social media platforms. The intensity of the rumours and the promptness by which they reach wide circles of the public, have proved that much more has to be done. In his speech on Sunday President Sisi sounded the alarm as to the devastating effect these rumours posed for the stability of the country. The Government, he said, had detected 21,000 rumours in no more than three months. The rumours mostly touch on issues that affect people's daily lives. They target prices, the quality of imported goods, government decisions, health issues, and a great many more concerns. And for people who are already experiencing difficult living conditions under an inevitable economic reform plan, the rumours do have a resonating adverse effect. They augment the people's sense of suffering, frustration and anger. These negative feelings are all it takes to "blow up countries from within" to use the President's words. It must be said that many of the rumours are deliberately created by the country's foes to shake society's trust in the government. But others circulate due to lack of information and transparency. And the public usually tends to believe what is published or posted without really tracing the source of information or authenticating news items. Following the President's reference to the impact of rumours, a TV campaign was launched to reveal facts about some of the circulating rumours. This is actually a commendable step and the effort being exerted by the IDSC in this same respect should not be underestimated. But, refutation is only one aspect of a process to achieve credibility. If the government really wished to limit the effect of rumours, its bodies should provide detailed and transparent information on projects, decisions, laws and whatever measures they take to bridge an existing information gap. Media staff, experts and ordinary citizens should be allowed access to accurate official information as an initial measure to combat rumours. Citizens should be allowed to understand what is going on in order to back their government.
